A NEW literary prize has been launched to celebrate Scottish writers from ethnic backgrounds following calls for more diversity.

This news comes just days after Scottish writer Harry Josephine Giles pulled out of the Highland Book Prize over an all-white shortlist.

Alongside the distinction itself, recipients of the Kavya Prize will be given a £1000 cash prize.

Scottish author Leela Soma, creator of the award, said: “The Kavya Prize in Scotland seeks to encourage diverse voices and shift the gaze of the literary scene from decades of the 'norm' to become more inclusive.

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“The need for recognising diverse voices in a multicultural Scotland is long overdue.

“To reflect our rainbow nation in our books will encourage the young 'new Scots' to access, participate and contribute to mainstream Scottish literature.

“Starting this prize in the Year of Stories Scotland 2022 is an important milestone for writers of colour.”

The word Kavya is Sanskrit, with its meaning roughly translating to “poem” or “poetry”, and can also be used to refer to a literary style used in the early century courts in India.

The award is being run in association with the University of Glasgow.

Dr Zoe Strachan, a reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, said her department hopes to encourage a wider community of writers rather than just its students alone.

She said: “We are honoured that Leela approached us about the Kavya Prize, and hope that it will become an important and treasured part of the Scottish literary scene as well as an aspiration for our talented students and graduates.

“We look forward to developing more opportunities for new writers in association with the enthusiastic supporters of the prize – and, of course, to seeing who will be on the shortlist in 2022!”

The judging panel has been revealed as Professor Bashabi Fraser CBE, Tawona Sithole and Leila Aboulela.

All three individuals are from ethnically diverse communities and have significant industry experience spread across poetry, music, writing and performing arts.

The prize will be awarded to Black, Indigenous, and people of colour writers who are Scots by birth, upbringing or inclination.

Works of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and short stories published from December 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, are all eligible.

Submissions for the Kavya Prize can be made to Danielle Schwertner on danielle.schwertner@glasgow.ac.uk